Coin controlled mailing machine



Sept. 14, 1943.

L. A. THATCHER 2,329,306

COIN CONTROLLED MAILING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1941 1'? Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY com CONTHOLLEDMAILING MACHINE Filed may 16, 1941 17 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVER TOR ATTORNEY pt. 14, 1343; THATQHER 2,32%,306

' com CONTROLLED MAILING momma Filed m 16 1941 17 s ews-sheet" 3 ATTORNEY Spt. 1943; L A. THATCHER $299 COIN CONTROLLED MAILING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1941 17 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 14, 1943. v 1. A. THATCHER 9,

' com CONTROLLED MAILING MACHINE Fi led May 15,- 4941 17 SheetsL-Sheet 5 Sept. 14, 1943. H R 2,329,306

COIN CONTROLLED MAILING MACHINE Filed ma 16, 1941 17 Sheet-Sheet ATTORNE q 1943- L. A. THATCHER 2,329,306

COIN CONTROLLED MAILING MACHINE Filed May 16 .1941 1'7 Sheets-Sheet '7 VENT R 744? 2724/ ATTORNEY Sept. 14, 1943. L. A. THATCHER 2,329,306

COIN CONTROLLED MAILING MACHINE FiledMay 16, 1941 17 Sheets-Sheet 8 ATTORNEY "Sept. 14;, 1943. 1.. A. THATCHER 2,329,306

v COIN CONTROLLED MAILING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1941 1'! Sheets-Sheet 9 ATTORNEY Sept. 14, 1943. H T HER 2,329,306 7 COIN CONTROLLED MAILING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1941 17 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR Z/fld? 4. W472i lw m ATTORNEY Sept. 14, 1943. A, THATCHER 2 ,329,306

com CONTROLLED MAILING mwnmn Filed Ray-16, 1941 1.? Sheets-Sheet 11 Fij Z/nde .7%/;//

ATTORNEY INVE TOR 227 Sept. 14, 1943. A. THATCHER 2,329,306

COIN CONTROLLED MAILING MAQHINE Filed May 16, 1941 17 Sheets-Sheet 12 INVENT 107d? cit) v ATTORNEY Sept. 14, 1943. L, A, THATCHER 2,329,306

' COIN CONTROLLED MAILING MACHINE Filed May '16, 1941 17 Sheets-Sheet 13 INVENT R [mm er; '77? 72/39 ATTORNEY Sept. 14, 1943. THATCHER. 2,329,306

COIN CONTROLLED MAILING MACHINE I Fil'ed May 16, 1941 17 Sheets-Sheet 14 ATTGRNEY p 1943- L. A. THA-TCHER 2,329,306

00m CONTROLLED MA LING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1941 17 Sheets-Sheet 15 INVENTOR ATTQRE p 4, 1943; L A. THATCHER 2,329,306

COIN CONTROLLED MAILING MACHINE Filed May 16, 194]. 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 16 ATTORINEY Sept. 14, 1943. L. A. TII-IATCHER 2,329,306

COIN CONTROLLED MAILING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1941 17 Sheets-Sheet 17 fer operation when the 8 is subtracted after beinginserted Y I) I I I +3, are adapted to'c'cntrjol the mechanism Dfthe calculating unit Etoset up laicredit whichfwill" agree with the. accumulatedvalue off the coins inserted, the po Fig. 1 7 showsstheparts affected by the selection I,

of a l value for printing;

Fig..l8 shows the parts affected during the printing of the 1 94- value for the first time; I Fig. 19shows the parts afiected during the printingof the l value for the second time;

, Fig. 20 shows the parts afiectedby the selection of an18 value; i 7 Fig. 21' shows the parts afiected during a transfer operation, when selecting the 18 value;

' Fig. 22 show the parts affected by the selection of the tens portion of the 18 value;

Fig. 23 shows the parts afi parts which are the same or similar to those in said co-pending application, will not be described, I

except as required for clarification; I

In the device of this invention, attention will I be drawn to the calculating unit and its control ectea swing the subtractionof the tens value of "the l8 setting; L

Fig. 24 shows the parts affected by the sub traction of the 8' units of the 18 selection;

Fig. 25 shows the parts afiectedduringa transv 18 selection; I i Fig. 26 shows the partsaffected during another from the I transfer operation. which is' effected when: the I 0 return mechanism operates during. the printn of the 18va1ue. k f' Fig. 27 shows thel parts; affected on the tensl side of the compens ator during theselector return operation after subtraction of the 18-value; Fig. 28 shows the parts affected onrthe units" side of the compensator during me sage rel- I turn operation; II Fig. 29 shows the parts afiected when t h mainder of 4 is selected-for printing;

Fig. 30 showsthe partsaffected.duringijthe printing or'sub traction'"ofsthe 4 va1ue;

Figs. e1, 32; '33, and 4 Show"sverarstagesjbn m ve en Q TQSIF -FWQ meses sm .I Fig. 35 is a perspective view on .an enlarged.

scale of the compensator mechanism JEi;- 36 is a view similar to 35'with parts broken away showing the tens-side of the. compensator x'unittand. j 1; I j f I; Fig. 3'7 is the final operation viw Eaft'erthe" j printing of the 4 value'a nd return o'f fthefmechanism to its zero position r G-eneral'description selectionme'ansfl.It, I I,

By meansfof the abcve'nam'ed; I I I in the ap o'prijate :coini slots bymeans of the oin insef ed; Afters; credit has beeniestablishedfahy part'off that credit may be selected as a valueto be printed, by rotating f *a manual selectionsknobZ' Fto'thevaIue' desired. I The selectionbper'ation'will'eitect the setting of. value type wheels in the printing drum 3'and" mechanism in 'the calculator 6; to "condition the machine forthe printing of a fpostag e stamp impression upon a letter inserted between lthe :rotary printer 3 andan impressionroller 8? "The insertion of a letter will effect the:trip:of 'a drive; i clutch to connect the drive with the rotary 7O .printer and meter unit, also willactuatethecal; culating mechanism when subtracting a selected.

wer; drive having been energized A oin lot! H V detect r "5 and..,a .'coin,actuator unit 5a, Fi 110,

Herejea'ch "'coihfli's 'controlled f'in' such. manner that, [the J outer, ameter- 'provides a selecting medium whereby a" connecting" link I3 is moved s troIfthe shifting of 'pimons, I5, I I cated in Figs. 6, l0. and 11, ,;Associated,.withsaid I pinions'. s,aremanmted gears indicated at, [6, I Fig. 3. thre ofwhich'arefiridi'c'ated atlfiu,"and

:are' arranged for lvaluefco'ntrol, and'two of V which are ihdiCeLtce'd'latllGtlahdare arranged for,

in accordance with values set: "up" by, the coins or by values selected for printing; J The features which will be emphasized will include thesetting 3 orf a credit in either a units or a tens difleren- .tial systernpthe selection in either a unitsor "tens orderfthe selection 01' a iractional'value,

such asia' one and one-half cent postage value,v

andthe return of the'selector mechanism to a zero position" at any time when the credit is reducedto'less than the value set in the selector. In the latter. operation, acompensatingunit is provided which also operates in a units andtens I order.f -i By use of the units. and tensjorder of control", master's; are; provided where necessar To understandgener'ally wherefthe mechanism is found which icen tronjeacn 10! "the above named featufrsfof operation, a briefdescription of the I controlling mechanism-will now be made. I, upon beinginsertedin its appropriate will pass thiiough'coin chute. IZIiI tO coin a predetermined vcl i tarice", as .determir'iedfby 'the' t t generally.

' tens value control;

. 45, Y i In Figs. 1 and 2 the'generall tructureoftheifl machine is shown, inlwhi'chfare includedy'a power drive I, a meter unit '2 having rotary?v v printer 3 combinedtherewith, coin receiving slots 4, coin detectors and'coin controlled actu: ators 5 and 5a','-a"c'alculating unit'fijfand value i. control of th co 'I'heifdes'ired pinion] 5; ,iis 'i jtn s mbved' under:

I II I into [operativerelationwith; an associated mutilated gear Il which gears are,

continuouslydriveh, and th "pinion isf'driven or! the mutilated-58a rotated, 'the dlstan to 1 differential me andk4. When ;a t

control mechanisms, theunits control being in dicated at the le tlt fandjtheltens Icbhtrol t the right of said partition. ,j'

. entries are made in either the sunor} thefri'ng through a gear connection fromth'e I I I os roll p e tlfi ii t t" to ,a'gear which meshe's fwith thefsun'gearof anvaluefrom' the credit. .i. e;-,the value otthestamp I which is printed onthe letter. i

" In the aforementioned co-pending application differential elements will described in;

gearfand whereinthe resultfis taken from the; planet gear movement, commonlyflfcalled the spider, In the above described'eperation, where the rotation of a'pinion L5 is transmitted to the tens differential B, entry is 'made'in, 'the'sun gear .l 'ansrerred of the difierential B and the resiilt i spiderlto a other differential indicated at cg; {the The otet orief e s i e nt i ie m tial A is transmitted to a units numeral wheel the entire mechanism referred to above is specifically described, but in this application such I I A fcoi'n, which movement ris transferred throuenjn ecnamsm, generally indie c' ed' at".l 4,'-lto pinion shifting elements; to con .I II

LjEach of thejdifirential devices mentioned, T I ,j well as others-which willb'e freferred tolater,

comprise planetary gear mechanismsg wherein aaaaeoaa is retained inveach of the: differentials A and 13, and the va1ues a're indicated upon the unitsand; tens wh'ee'lslau andlati- Registration of the coin-controlled creditivalues is also made in the compensator unit -generally" indicated at32, Figs. 4 and 35.v i a v After a credit has. been set-up, theneigtopera on a letter. The selector knob 2|, Figs. 1 andZ,

' tion comprises the manual selection ota value which it is desiredto have v printed as postage 23 thereon; Through a unit's and-'r-tensicontrol" cam mechanism 24, Figs.' '7 "and 1-1 'whi'ch is Tia-= t'atedflwith the' shaft 2 2; a units rriutilated gear structure 2514 and a tens r'r' uti-lated-fgear"struq tine-251; Fig. 3, are adapted to .be adiu'stedfwithrelation to" units and'tenspinionsffiwand zfii respectiy'ely. Also, when'a selection is, made;th;

gear ziiwill drive agearffl on shaft Fig; tof actuat e the 'sun"gear'-of*a diiIe rentiaI indicated at EQfWhreiIi the units values fare setduring I a-"selection operation. Whenfa ;value beyond driven lay-a eontinuouslyrota'ting fl! is selectedfa transfer is provided by inearis oi" transfer flinechanismf 3|',"Fig;f4, which' controls" the drive or the sun gear er a1 diflerntial'yb to thuss'et the tensivalue therein,

After setting a selected' value andtrippinQthe machine by inserting a letter between the printe ing druinand impression roller, in a manner ,de-.

scribed in the aforesaidfcopendingf applic'ation; the units or tens mutilated-gears 25 11, and Hi will be erotat'ed to drive the ,pinions 26a or Hit and effect a subtracting operation. When sub tifac-i tion is .efiected'the drive of the;pinion 26u is transmitted through the ring gear of the differ;-

ential A,,then from'the spider tofisaidfdifierential Ato the units; indicator Wheel" 1811, also to the ring 'gear of the junits differentia-LE. From the r I spider of the" differential :E ,Lthe compensator 32] is also adjusted in" agcordance with the selected.

valueduringa printing operatio'n The jsulcitr aq;a, v

tion of the tens selection through pinion 26ti'fi'sf,

transmitted to'the ring gear'oi' the;difieijentia1C, andirom the spider 0f said difierential qfthe pens'ator 3211s adjusted; r v v If at anytimeqthe credit remaining is re'duced' to a value during any printing-'operation tq an amount 'which'is less than 'the'values et up inthe manual selector 1, provision iisiihade to have the selector return" to a zero position. As'ai re'sult indie; and-each hasfthe ame Graeme-mg drive is transmitted to the tens-.nunierafwheeh is; and'the rin gear ofthe diifereniti'al' D Also from thespider of the differentialD" the com a and ikfza rdpiniorr.shitting members ig moved-inn negative-o1?countercIockwise-direetion by diffierentials mandsRand transfer 3 IFi'ggQ; Upon reachingapredeterminedrpointingai nega-' tive directiozi during-ia subtracting zeroretum-clutch, m ssa re-amped team the SGIBGQQPdiSItQEZZEPWDQSitl-W I,

- The mechanism relatingitoitheabovefeatures wliTnow' he-described in de' Fountoin slbts;indicated vided for the reception of quarter dimes, nickels and pennies as indieatd by -ogre N and B re aware-connected eoin mates lz wrm eom detecto units' 5', w1 iic units-may? be of any cornmercia ype suitable fo 1 rej fee'tiiagf awu ins: s e s meat i hwnei' mi detectors; thefsaid eoins w' nterthe-coimaetu atorunits 5m shc wninFi Y Said actuator unitsoomp ideguide grat s structure Afcoin' hann'erfnie'nihef the 3 31 1 by tilem ta drivel] i En r eis a is; to provide a seat M and a Corgi-engaging sheiih dr lzi'i 1-: j 5 I A coin stopfig; fifxedjt'o af shaft lj ljf hasione" nose-shaped: endthereonnormally urged imam p ofQuins? zbxzme nszoiza sprin-g fli e path of eachcoinonced ha qmi dic'a d hereabeve to designa'te 'thepartieui rodsare associated-J .7

Secured to one otueah: of. the rods as I depend downwardiygahd aclahas a or ke'd e 59 en'gaged withhgroeve I ortions i lof a 4" ciatedgpinionsiw or" 55 I th of this operation it will becomenecessaryfor thel operator to reset-the 'selector beifc'ire another printing operation can be efiecte'dl If-there-is an insufiicient amount got credit remaining for the postage which it is desired to print next,;fur-

the'r' coins must be inserted to increase the credit I to the necessary value.

' "The" compensating mechaniszn 32; prev1ously referredjto, isfpr'oir'ided for the purposeotpre venting the'printing Of a value greaterjthan the credit value, also for controlling oriinitiatin'g the' operation for the return of thes'elector, mar a zeroat the end'of an operating cycle; When said compensator is actuated through the credit niejch anism, it is driven'in apositive pr'clockwise di ;v

rection; as viewed from Fig. 35; to .receivethe;

credit-Value t up inthe creditdifiefential nie qhf f be noted that in the-ca ne are; two'iiini on; sh ngmembe s Sea- 5w} whieh are-' engalgect; withe. associated prams se amuse; Said pim'on's m ma 55t are mounted an, rages; Saidshaits 51w andjit are adapted to freely rotate a comrnon beai i ng wane end bearings Gitfurtherhaveggearsw'mf andflGtt -fixed' thereon re fvelys l't; will-'- I of -tl' i dime, niekel-and cent there is onlya singlepin-ion shifting mem I her but in the ease of the quartet-there are two shifting members, one to adjust the tens pinion 55t and'the ot' toadjust the units pinionji fiu Cboperatin h"t-he "pinions ,551aand 5515 are eat an m lia m -pa As best show m r'ies; 3 amas pi' v may state a m tila d sared i w o a l' one-see or three at we and compris- 

